Taiwan Reflection

After leaving Taiwan, I can't imagine never returning to the beautiful island. I don't think I can go the rest of my life without coming back and seeing how the “isla formosa” is doing. The people there made me feel at home and have convinced me that Taiwan has a very bright future! I have discovered them to be very genuine, hardworking people who have left a forever positive impression on my heart. I truly was not expecting to make such good friends in Taiwan. I instantly got along with many of the students we met. Most of them spoke English very well, some of them impressively fluent in both Mandarin and English. We shared many laughs and exchanged many gifts.

I will not just miss the people – I miss the island itself and all her gorgeous mountainous terrain. Our last Saturday in Taiwan, we traveled to the gold ecological park along with some “old towns”, Jiufen and Shifen. It was cool to leave the big city and explore the mountains. There was a former gold mine we got to explore and a museum with a giant brick of gold as the main attraction. In Shifen, we got to participate in the “sky lantern experience”. We each wrote wishes on the sides of a giant paper balloon, which then was given to the sky by lighting a fire inside like a hot air balloon. It was awesome and meaningful for everyone.

On our free day in Taiwan, some of my friends and I met up with 4 of our new Taiwanese friends and went to the Taipei Zoo! I was probably the most excited of the bunch, for I had wanted to go here since I had heard about it. They had cool animals, some I had never seen before, like pandas, the Asian black bear, and exotic birds. They also had signs pointing to slightly mundane animals for Michiganders, such as raccoons and squirrels.

At one point at the zoo, I got separated from the group because I was determined to see some monkeys. We had a misunderstanding about where we were to meet up, and I went back to the zoo entrance hoping to find them. After searching for them in the humid heat, I went to the visitor center and had them called over the intercom. She said it once in English and once in Mandarin – and it was the Mandarin that my group heard! Soon we were reunited. My experience getting lost only proved how helpful and friendly the Taiwanese people are and showed me how good of friends I have in Taiwan.

That day, we had to say goodbye to our new friends. It was hard, - they really are awesome, funny, caring people. I really hope to see them again, and now that I know good people in Taiwan, I don't see why I can't return someday. The companies we visited, such as HTC, Giant, and Asus, proved that Taiwan is a great place to do business and I learned some valuable lessons. These companies displayed a genuine sense of corporate responsibility. I think they really believe that by improving their products, they are improving people's lives. All of their facilities fit in with the beauty of Taiwan, with bountiful gardens and trees. When I own a business someday, I'll remember the hospitality and passion for people that is prevalent in Taiwan.

Last day in Taiwan

  Wednesday was our last full day in Taiwan. I woke up and had no idea where we were going, as the schedule did not show what the morning had in store. But, as usual, I was down for anything. I hopped on the tour bus and found out we were going to a company that makes packaging for make-up, BottleMate. Okay, not the most exciting visit, but I looked to the future with my usual sense of optimism. And, as it turned out, the BottleMate factory was actually pretty cool.

The company tour began on a humorous note. A representative began speaking to us in Chinese and this continued for several minutes until our professors realized he had no intention of speaking in English. So, our faithful Professor Peng stepped up as the translator. It was a pretty awesome spur of the moment kind of moment. Afterward, we got in the largest elevator we've seen yet. And we've ridden in a large variety of elevators on this trip. If I've learned anything from studying abroad, it's that no two elevators are the same. Some of them have music, some of them speak to you, and some of them even have constellations on the ceiling (the elevator in Taipei 101, the world's fastest elevator!).

Well, I have learned a lot more but we'll save that for the “Taiwan reflection” blog post (coming soon). Now – back to the story. As we entered this make-up bottle factory, I realized that I have never given much thought to how make-up is packaged. It's actually interesting whether you're a guy or a girl. There are huge machines used to make bottles, caps, and to paint these products.

The first floor we explored was the painting area, which we could tell immediately by the smell. The company was producing thousands of one of its products – Hello Kitty containers! We watched as just a few workers ran these plastic cat faces through a machine to paint noses on them and subsequently dry them. Dozens of these Hello Kitties were disposed of for the smallest of mistakes, such as small paint spots in the wrong places. I was surprised with the amount of waste, but the company was evidently adamant about perfect products.

Next, we explored the cool part of the factory – where the bottles are made in a plastic injection / plastic blow process. Hot plastic is squeezed out of the machine in the shape of a small cylinder, which is then blasted with air to expand it into the shape of a bottle. Just watching the machine in work could keep one entertained for hours. A single worker broke off excess plastic attached to the bottles, which would eventually be used to produce more bottles. The man showing us the factory explained that this excess material can only be used to produce darker bottles.

At the end of the tour, we were even given free shampoo and body wash as gifts! They were called “White Musk”. Although I got the sense that these products would have been thrown away had they not been given away – they had the typo of “green tea erxtracts” written in the ingredients – it was still a very nice gesture. This company helped me realize that there are unlimited opportunities to go in business – here was a business I had never heard of that was supplying goods for companies everybody has heard of, such as Gucci! I wondered how the owner decided to go in the make-up packaging business, and I suppose it was simply because there was an opportunity to do so. It's possible to create great products just to support other larger businesses, and that's a very refreshing realization for a future businessman.

After BottleMate, we traveled to a saxophone company and museum. Immediately, the women executives at the company wanted volunteers to try playing a saxophone. As no one else was willing to do so at first (and like I said, I'm down for anything!), I stood up. At first, I played what sounded like bird calls with my saxophone. But after I understood how to breathe into it, and the employee showed me a few notes, I belted out a few melodies that didn't sound horrible. The following picture I like to call my “Bill Clinton impression”.

Next, we explored what is essentially a saxophone museum. There were dozens of different saxophones, including one of the first saxophones ever created. The lights hanging from the ceiling were even made from saxophone parts. I found out that saxophones aren't a very old instrument – the first one was created in 1841 by a Belgium man named Adolphe Sax. This man was even featured on Belgium money for his creation, which reveals that you don't necessarily have to be a leader to get your face on a bill, and that not all men named Adolphe are bad.

At the end of the tour, we got to design a key chain. We cut out pieces of paper with adhesive laced backsides, which were put through a staining process – the same process used to engrave saxophones. I tried making a dragon face, but the mouth is so big and odd, it looks like a dragon fish. It's a perfect reminder of our first day in Taiwan and Harrison Lee, the tour guide at the Confucius Temple who warned us not to become dragon-fish. This goofy keychain will always remind me of my last day in Taiwan.

YungShin and Giant bicycles

 Yesterday our group went to two very different businesses. One was a pharmaceutical company called YungShin; the other is a well known bicycle manufacturer called Giant. Both companies market themselves as healthy, trustworthy brands, although their processes and products couldn't be more different. Both businesses are located in Taichung, the city in central Taiwan we are currently staying in. Touring and getting the chance to compare these two companies was very intriguing.

YungShin welcomed us into their factory and warehouse and allowed us to see many of the steps that go into producing pharmaceuticals. We were able to see pill production, as each pill gets created and packaged into bottles. Most of the processes are automated, with people in protective clothing monitoring each step along the way. We were assured of a clean, sterile environment, and this was evident. However, the brand manager only spoke Chinese and he had a translator that wasn't excellent at English. For this reason, many of our questions did not get answered adequately.

At one point, an automated forklift drove past us! Later, we watched as a forklift slowly moved around the huge warehouse, moving a pallet of products. We were told that in this warehouse, robots essentially do all of the work obtaining the products in storage. We saw a few people monitoring the processes and waiting for the machines to deliver products. This was modern business technology at work before our eyes.

YungShin has 3 factories that produce human and animal drugs, health supplements, and cosmetics. I don't quite agree with the philosophy of using drugs to heal the body; I prefer the natural Chinese medicine approach that we learned more about a few days ago. For this reason, I was a little skeptical of a company whose growth relies on doctors prescribing more medication. However, I must acknowledge that this company seemed focused on safety and quality. I was surprised at the amount of pills we saw go into waste – apparently these did not meet the high standards of the company. I am grateful we got to see so much of the company, and I learned that the entire drug creation process can take more than 10 years! It's reassuring that so much testing is done on their products and on the people using them before they hit the market.

Our next stop was Giant bicycles. It's safe to say that we were all impressed with what we saw here – from the company presentation to the manufacturing floor. The company's marketing is truly inspirational – the culture is centered around a healthy lifestyle that simply encourages people to get exercise by riding a bike. We were told the story of the company's founder, King Liu, who made his first big bicycle trip around Taiwan at the age of 72. A few years later, he continues to challenge himself to ride bigger distances. He takes company executives along with him on these bicycle tours, including a yearly 8 day ride around Taiwan. His story was very motivational, and it reminded me of how much I used to love riding my bike everywhere as a child.

After the presentation, we were taken to the on site bicycle factory. My fellow students who work for GM confirmed that it's designed just like a car factory. Every step along the assembly line is done by hand, and the workers are responsible for completing a few steps per bike at a pretty quick pace. The company produced 6,300,000 bikes in the year 2012. What's impressive is that Giant has achieved total vertical integration – meaning that every step, from bicycle production and assembly to retailing, is done by the company. Some bicycles are sold by outside retailers, but many are sold directly through the company's own brick-and-mortar stores.

I owned a Giant bicycle as a teenager and when I get another bike, I will most likely buy another Giant. I was very impressed with the entire company. Their motive is very positive – to get more people to be healthy by riding a bicycle. The company started a free bike rental service in Taipei, and also supports bicycle tours throughout Asia. They sponsor different bicycle riders in competitions, and when I asked if they were involved in the X-Games, the spokesperson implied that they were not, but asked me if this was something they should do. I thought it was very cool that the company is willing to take recommendations from average users of their products. The story of King Liu inspires me to continue to challenge myself and to keep doing the things I love!

Staying at Tunghai University

 During our time in Taichung, Taiwan, we are staying on the Tunghai University campus. Before our arrival I was told it's the most beautiful campus on planet Earth. Although I later found out that the professor who said this previously attended this university, I have found that it is indeed a very beauteous place. There are probably as many trees as there are students! There are large outdoor gardens and indoor plant life as well. Being here truly makes you feel “one with nature”.

Our first day here, we received a tour of the campus from a professor from Belgium. It was an incredibly peaceful tour. As we walked down a hill lined with trees, hearing about the history of the college, the environment was very calm and soothing. Part of the reason is because students living on campus are not allowed to own vehicles, so there was virtually no traffic on the streets. With so many buildings, paths, and railings surrounded by nature, the campus feels like a beautiful level out of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater. It would be awesome to skateboard here, if I was any good at skateboarding.

This university began as a Christian college. It has a huge, stunning chapel that was designed by I.M. Pei, the same architect who designed the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame Museum in Cleveland, Ohio. This is awesome because I've been to the museum, and it's crazy to see another building (a real work of art) designed by the same man halfway around the world. I also found out that Richard Nixon attended the ground-breaking ceremony when this university began. Small world.

In the morning, we attended a lecture on the Taiwan financial market. We learned more about the Taiwan stock market, in which the eccentric professor described the Taiwanese participants as “shopping cart” buyers – saying that the average person regards stocks like sports in this country. It was an interesting lecture, informing us about Taiwan's GDP and reminding me that there are very intelligent professors all around the world.

In the afternoon, the university treated us to an excellent dinner which included some “American foods”, such as fries and chicken nuggets, as well as good Taiwanese food and great deserts like strawberries with pudding. We met some students from this university and exchanged stories of our school experiences. Although the students didn't seem as comfortable speaking English as some of the people we met in Taipei, we still shared a good many laughs.

There is a night market very close to our hotel with dozens of businesses and street vendors. I bought chicken hearts on a stick, which were covered in spices and were very delicious. I also bought some pig's blood cake, which was not so awesome. In fact, I tried feeding it to a dog and he wouldn't eat it! A few friends and I bought a basketball at the market and played a few games of 21 on the nearby basketball courts. Afterward, we found some pool tables in a building where students were practicing dance moves. It was a very fun night, one of our last in Taiwan. Overall, I have been very impressed with this beautiful, peaceful university and have been sleeping very well here.  

Great People, Great Times

Last night we said goodbye to the capital city of Taipei and traveled via high speed rail to Taichung, the 3rd largest city in Taiwan. At one point on the train, we were traveling 150 miles per hour! It was hard to say goodbye to the new friends we made. In just a few days, I've met some great people and had a plethora of laughs. Fortunately, at least 2 of our new friends will be coming to Michigan in the fall to study. We promised to show them a good time, like they did for us.

I've had a very busy past few days. On Thursday, I was at Taipei 101 once again for a presentation at the Taiwan Stock Exchange. It was very interesting to see the differences in the Taiwan stock market compared to the NYSE and even the Tokyo Stock Exchange. For instance, there is a 7% daily limit on changes to a stock's value - meaning that a stock cannot increase or decrease by more than 7% in a single day. This is a reassuring factor that makes me interested in investing here. Also, almost 40% of Taiwan's population invest in their stock market as individual investors, which is cool because it shows how much Taiwan's people and its businesses are interconnected.



On Thursday, we also went to Franz, a porcelain company that makes vases and other artistic, yet practical, gifts. What's interesting about Franz is that they don't use traditional marketing to advertise - instead, they create value for their products by winning awards, displays at trade shows, and hosting guests such as ourselves. We got to tour many floors and see how art meets business and old meets new. Some people were designing porcelain on computers while others worked with clay to shape the molds that will be used to mass produce a product. Then we saw a small museum of the company's beautiful products, including an "Emperor" dinner table set with a value of 2,000,000 NT$!



On Friday, we went to Tamkang University in a previously unexplored area of Taipei. Here, we were treated with the utmost respect and met many more friends. The campus is beautiful, surrounded by trees and with a gorgeous garden where we saw goldfish and turtles. We played a fun "culture communication" game in which a phrase was whispered to 7 people to see how much the phrase changes. Our team did very bad, although it was all U of M Flint students! It showed that even within our own culture, communication problems are possible unless steps are taken to avoid them.



The students gave us a tour of the Tam Sui "old town", which has many historical buildings, temples and churches. There was a statue of a bearded British man who had come to the island as a missionary and built the churches. Finding the statue was a very happy moment, when all of the students decided that I looked just like him and snapped many pictures. The students were very nice and knowledgeable, and although a few of them had little experience speaking English and I have very little experience with Chinese, we got along very well. I learned a few new words, such as "how-lurr" (which means hot), and I taught a few of the students some new phrases and words, like "awesome!" We walked along a riverside pier with a beautiful view of the mountains.

It's amazing how many great people we have met so far. It was hard to say goodbye, but they now know that they have a good friend in Michigan, and I have many good friends in Taiwan. Many of them found me on Facebook, and I told each of them that now we are friends for life. Today we'll be at Tunghai University in Taichung, and I look forward to meeting even more new friends and learning even more.

Chinese Medicine & Taipei 101

Yesterday was such a fun and busy day, I slept very easily when we got back to the hotel! Our day started at the National Taiwan Normal University, to attend a class in Chinese medicine. As we waited for the professor, we practiced Mandarin tongue twisters – and even taught the assistant teacher one we knew ("How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?") As the class began, we learned a lot about the effects of various foods on the body and how particular foods can heal ailments. The professor was very knowledgeable in natural medicine and demonstrated his meditation and acupuncture techniques. Each student in our group got an acupuncture needle placed into their hand to relieve pressure and build strength. I enjoy the eastern philosophy on medicine - it has a very natural approach rather than immediately resorting to drugs or surgery like the western approach. 

Afterwards, two nice (and cute) students from the National Taiwan Normal University gave us a tour of the campus. It is very beautiful, with many modern buildings and art that is symbolic to the school. For instance, different “hats” don the doorways, which symbolize graduation, and some of the roofs represent the wings of birds, “protecting” the students and encouraging them to soar. Seeing students study in the elegant library and the student council passing out fliers outside, you get the sense that college life is not much different in Taiwan than in America.



Our major visit today was at HTC, the smart phone company. Walking into the business is like stepping into the future. It was designed to be spacious, with bright white floors and kung-fu sculptures in the lobby. The workers treated us like family and showed us around the facility. There was a workout room, complete with punching bags and a boxing ring. Workers are allowed to come work out at any time, or enjoy free food at the cafeteria. Next, we were given an impressive demonstration about HTC smart phones and found out how the company got to be so large and profitable in just 16 years – through innovation and a focus on “quiet brilliance”, which was described as doing great things in a humble way. The company was so impressive, we were even awarded small gifts on our way out!



In the evening, we went back to Taipei 101, the third tallest building in the world. This time our goal was to reach the top, and fortunately I was feeling much better than the day before. We rode the world's fastest elevator to the observation deck on the 89th floor. The view is just awe-inspiring. With all of the buildings lit up against the night sky, we could see the entire city of Taipei. Such amazing lights and incredible architecture. There is a giant steel ball suspended at the top of the tower to keep it from swaying the wind. 

This was the perfect way to end our day. After eating dinner at the Taipei 101 food court, we came home. Today we get to go to the Taiwan stock exchange - and luckily, I feel better than ever! 

The Importance of Hydration

After being in Taiwan for a few days, I can confirm that Taipei is a very large and exciting city. I also know now that if you are not careful and don't get enough water, it is easy to get sick! The heat and humidity had taken a temporary toll on my well being, but I am once again feeling great and inspired by everything we have seen and done so far.

On Monday, we visited the Wang Tea Company, which was the 5th factory in Taiwan. They use time-honored traditions to create different varieties of tea. We were able to see the whole process, from people separating the stems from the tea leaves by hand to the oxidation process required to make black tea. It was cool to see the humble makings of a company that exports its products all over the world.

 We also visited the Taiwan National Palace museum, which houses thousands of ancient Chinese artifacts. We were not able to take pictures, so I drew some instead.  We were able to explore the night market on Monday night, where thousands of people go to buy food and hang out. There are several carnival games set up, and me and a fellow classmate played a game in which we popped balloons with an air-soft gun. Afterward, we were told that we had to share our prize! Rather than fight over a stuffed animal, I let him keep it.

On Tuesday, we got to meet students from the National Taiwan Normal University, who welcomed us with a small party. We played games, some involving chop stick proficiency. Needless to say, I didn't do too well. Every single person we met has been exceptionally friendly and eager to teach us about Taiwan. My new friend, Li Chen, will be visiting U of M - Flint during this year's fall semester, so he was very interested in learning about the United States. He was awed when I showed him pictures of the Frankenmuth SnowFest (where people come from around the world to build snow and ice sculptures), because he has never seen snow before! I was impressed with all of the students' ability to speak English - I was not expecting to make so many friends and share so many laughs with the people here!

Our next company visit was to KPMG, a financial firm whose home is the 62nd through 68th floors of the Taipei 101 skyscraper. This is the world's 3rd tallest building, and every time I looked out of a window, no matter what side of the building we stood on, I was awe-inspired by the gorgeous view. KPMG gave us a demonstration and tour of their business, which is very professional and aesthetically pleasing. The firm provides audit, tax, and advisory services to other businesses. I was impressed with some of their big name clients, such as Citibank, Microsoft, and PepsiCo. It must be awesome to work inside of the Taipei 101 and see a beautiful view every time you come to work.

Our visit to Asus was very impressive. After watching an excellent presentation about the company and its new products, including the Asus Fonepad, we were able to test out new devices for ourselves. The FonePad 2 is sleek and seems the next logical progression for the smart phone market - it's sold as a package that includes both a smart phone and a tablet, which can lock together to instantly transfer data between the two. Our tour of the Asus building revealed just how awesome it would be to work for the company - it has a full sized swimming pool, an exotic hot tub with a view of the city, a large work out room, a employees' cafeteria, and a beautiful courtyard that is shaped like a motherboard. I think just being in the building would bring out my creativity as an employee, for there is artwork throughout the skyscraper - including a large Mona Lisa picture made out of computer chips.

Unfortunately, I had not drunken much water throughout the whole day and as we returned to Taipei 101, I began to feel sick. I imagine a number of factors are what led to me puking in the food court - not only was I dehydrated, especially after drinking a coffee, but I had tried sushi for the first time at lunch and I hadn't slept very well the night before. So, I became the first person to get sick on our trip. Dr. Laurence, Carol, and Danielle were kind enough to take a cab with me back to the hotel before the rest of the group returned. It was quite a crazy cab ride, as Carol told the driver to hurry and we sped down back alleys and through traffic. After drinking water and getting plenty of sleep, I was revitalized and ready to be the group leader on the following day!

Day 1 in Taiwan

"If someone comes to visit you on a rainy day, then they are truly your friend."

 

These were the words of Harrison Lee, our very friendly and wise tour guide at the Confucius Temple in Taipei, Taiwan. "You must be good friends to the temple and to Taiwan for coming on such a rainy day!" It had been raining all morning, and it would continue raining the rest of the day. Yet this did not damper the fun and excitement of our first day in Taipei whatsoever. Since the airplane landed in Taiwan, after about 18 hours of flying on 3 different flights, life has been awesome. The sights have been astonishing, the people are very friendly, and I've already learned a lot of things.

I can't stop taking pictures. The Confucius Temple was one of the major spots I was looking forward to, so imagine my excitement when I found out that it's really a series of temples, beautiful architecture that was crafted with carvings and statues of dragons, phoenixes, and Confucius, the philosopher who lived 2,500 years ago whom the temple is named for. As we entered the "Gate of Di" (or the "Gate of Rite", in English), we could hear peaceful music coming from within the temple grounds. As we got deeper into this landmark, we discovered that it was traditional Chinese music being played live by locals. It was truly a transcendental experience.

Our energetic tour guide made the experience all the more fulfilling. He told us everything we would want to know, emphasizing that the temples (and Asia in general) are influenced by the teachings of Confucius, as well as Taoism and Buddhism. He spoke of reciprocity and respect, showing us the proper way to do a traditional Chinese bow. He warned us all to become dragons and not "dragon-fish", fish that try to turn into dragons but only transform halfway.

Our next stop, after eating my first delicious meal at a busy food court, was the Republic of China presidential building. Visiting this palace in Taiwan is the equivalent of visiting the White House back in the United States. After going through security, and observing guards that remain completely still like the Buckingham Palace guards in Britain, we were welcomed into the elegant entrance of the building. Soon, we walked into a room where college students were performing music. After a girl with a beautiful voice performed, she walked right up to me! Her and her friends gave our group soap, saying "Welcome" and "Happy Mother's day". I told her what I had been thinking while she was singing in Mandarin - that no one had to understand the words to feel the beauty of the song.

The folks at the ROC presidential building were very hospitable and made us feel very welcome in their country. A tour guide showed us through the elaborate building, with many floors and many beautiful gardens. We learned about the complex history of Taiwan and the wars and politics that have led up to the modern age. After this, we went to a museum in downtown Taipei. I was extremely excited to find out that there were fossils on display.

At the end of the day, we took the subway to a very busy and modern part of Taipei, the Red House Market. Thousands of people crowded the streets, some of them playing instruments, some of them waving flags, and everyone enjoying themselves despite having to hold umbrellas. It was a big city experience I don't think I've ever had before. We were given free time to explore and find a place to eat dinner. Me and a few new friends from U of M walked through an art market, in which dozens of vendors were selling their own creations, as well as other cool souvenirs. As much as I wanted to buy something, I restrained myself, in an attempt to save money for the rest of the trip. Our group found a good place to eat in a back alley lit with black lights and other cool lighting.

Tomorrow we will visit the Wang Tea Company, the National Palace Museum, and learn more about the culture and language of Taiwan. If the rest of the trip is anything like today, then it will be incredible. Some sights and sounds were so captivating they were very difficult to put into words, but as the trip and this blog continue, I will do my best.

Excitement for Taiwan & Japan

“Wherever you go, there you are.” 

     At the moment, I am in Flint, Michigan, at the same house I have lived in for 19 years. My soul needs adventure; my mind craves stimulation; my eyes desire nature's beauty. This is why I signed up for the University of Michigan – Flint's Japan & Taiwan study abroad trip.

     It's amazing to think that in 8 days, I'll be in Taiwan, and 11 days later, I'll be standing in Japan. It's incredibly exciting and refreshing to have this opportunity. After studying international business for 4 years, I'm finally about to get some first hand overseas experience. After preparing for the trip for a few months, and having a garage sale to make money to convert to yen and New Taiwan dollars, all I can do now is expect the unexpected.

     Well, I do know a bit of what to expect, but it's proved hard to imagine just how awesome it'll be. Based on what I do know, it should be a very fun and fulfilling experience.

     Until recently, I knew very little about Taiwan, but the more I find out the more excited I get to be there! The island is important to both Chinese and Japanese history, so it'll be interesting to see the modern culture and the ways that business is done in this country. I can't believe I'll be in the Republic of China Presidential Building in Taipei. I'll be in Taipei, the capital, for 8 days, and Taichung, Taiwan for 3 days. I watched “Life of Pi”, which I'm told was filmed in Taichung. The film definitely makes Taiwan look like it lives up to its title of “Ilha Formosa” - or beautiful island!

     It sounds like a very peaceful, pleasant country that I will have the pleasure of studying in. I am particularly excited to visit a Confucius temple. Even pictures of these temples look majestic, and rest assured that I will take plenty of pretty pictures too. The “sky lantern experience” is also sure to be a Kodak moment (or should I say, Instagram moment?). I'm looking forward to meeting students at the National Taiwan Normal University and learning about business from an east Asian perspective. It's gonna be so cool to talk to local students and see what they see.

     After 11 days in Taiwan, I'll be in Tokyo, Japan. I don't think I've ever been to a place with as vast a history as Japan. It's amazing that such a small island (or group of islands) can be home to the world's 10^th largest population and 4^th largest economy! Stepping into the Akihabara Electronics District in Tokyo may be like seeing the future of urban development. I'm looking forward to the Grand Sumo Tournament like a kid on Christmas Eve! At the same time, I'm excited to see the age-old architecture of Kamakura, Japan's capital from 1192 to 1333. Hiroshima may be an emotional part of the journey as we visit the Itsukushima Shrine and see the effects of World War II. As a music lover, I also can't wait to visit the Yamaha Musical instrument manufacturing facility and examine the process.

     I've purchased a pocket guide book to Japan that has lots of great information, as well as translations. It has insight on everything from traveling around Tokyo to Japanese restaurants to historical points of interest. It will no doubt be handy on the streets of Tokyo – it's already proved useful in appreciating regional differences. I also downloaded an app called Human Japanese that assists in learning Japanese. I've been practicing some key phrases, but I need to devote more time to the language – the written letters are hard to grasp!

     I also rented the book “The Japanese Psyche: Major Motifs in the Fairy Tales of Japan”. It's an interesting read that delves into the Japanese culture by analyzing fairy tales from the country. It has some really cool and thought provoking stories, like “The Handless Maiden” and “Crane Wife”. The stories often have a feminine perspective, and are filled with nature and moral choices but not necessarily romance. Finally, I've been watching Japanese films, including Battle Royale, Ringu, the Princess Blade, and Sonatine. All of these films, while very different from each other, were deep in meaning and rich in emotion. They also have beautiful scenery, and to think that I will see the same mountains and seashores has me stoked.

     So, in short, I'm very happy to have signed up for this program. There are dozens of things to look forward to and lots of knowledge to be gained. The sights that I will see and the people that I'll meet – I simply can't imagine. But just how much excitement and discovery awaiting me is still a mystery. I have a week to wait, and with every day that passes my anticipation builds and I remind myself that I still have to pack.